COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2012 AT 6:00-7:30PM I) Welcome at 6:00pm Cyndie Lamoreau welcomed everyone. II) Review Agricultural Data Nicole Briand reviewed the handouts and the results from the agricultural survey. III) Identify Needs The following needs where identified by workshop participates: security in land tenure consumers purchasing products town might match % CSA shares to share holders town supports classes on preparation and handling of whole foods create scholarship to fund farmers to travel to convention – participate or present sources for affordable organic feed grains and other feed grains “zoning” that benefits farms & farming? housing/ seasonal housing affordable making local food more affordable – someway for lower food budgets infrastructure – towns puts water on land, using state land, future farmers, use land that’s here to be used. IV) Presentations Tori Lee Jackson, Extension Educator Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Office, UMaine Extension Service. Tori provided an overview of some of the programs and services she and UMaine Extension Service provide. She encouraged participates to check out their facebook page or contact her for more information. Additionally, all information can be found on their website. Tori Lee Jackson, Extension Educator Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Office 24 Main St. Lisbon Falls, ME 04252-1505 Tel. (207) 353-5550 x11 Fax. 1-866-500-9088 tori.jackson@maine.edu extension.umaine.edu Stephanie Gilbert, Farm Viability & Farmland Protection Specialist for Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources. Stephanie provided an overview of some of the programs and services she and the Maine Department of Agriculture provided. Stephanie R. Gilbert Farm Viability & Farmland Protection Specialist Maine Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources Page 1 of 5 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2012 AT 6:00-7:30PM 28 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0028 Office: 207.287.7520 Fax: 207.287.5576 stephanie.gilbert@maine.gov www.maine.gov/agriculture Stacy Benjamin, Municipal Outreach Contractor, Maine Farmland Trust. Stacy provided an overview of their new publication, "Cultivating Maine's Agricultural Future: New Guide for Towns Looking to Encourage Local Farming." Stacy Benjamin Municipal Outreach Contractor Maine Farmland Trust Phone: (207) 342-2929 Mobile: (207)322-5048 sbenjamin@mainefarmlandtrust.org www.mainefarmlandtrust.org V) How can we support agriculture and reach our goals? Participates provided the following ideas on how the Town can: 1. To enhance the viability of agriculture so that it will remain an economic strength for future generations. Cooperative resource board on town website support farm easement acquisitions by state, local and federal government and by private trust groups enhance viability for future generations flexible ordinances tax breaks for farm equipment, barns, structures education for all ages democratize access to fresh produce: a program that matches WIC or SNAP$ via tokens (11 existing programs at portland market) farming techniques and crops for the marine clay lands of Town encourage land owners to think about leasing really good soils bring back 4th of july barbeque and make it an agriculture celebration treat all economic sectors/businesses equal lower taxes on farm buildings/infrastructure support it. provide incentives to farmers and consumers. protect all land, water resources. treat it as a necessity and not a commodity. root cellar workshop to keep more food in local homes make taxation of farms user friendly for the farm owner/operator and make it long term/permanent to ensure that this land can be transferred with the same benefit. leave the complaining people who initially love farm animals stop hindering the animal growth affordable housing Page 2 of 5 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2012 AT 6:00-7:30PM increase markets support competitive prices increase production infrastructure separate current use - working vs non working inventory farm land in use & availability more community :farmers talk with the town" meetings reduction in property taxes for working farms encourage land owners with unused agricultural land to rent it to farmers create revolving loan fund to assist the maine farmland trust or similar organizations to save endangered farm land get a deal with butcher or get a local butcher incentivise preservation of farmland is subdivision ordinance avoid zoning explore tax options for encouraging farmland protection (there seem to be new options) keep practices close to nature simple and beautiful and healthy farmland overlay zones created to protect land with prime farm land soils and soils in production consider purchase of development rights of land with prime soils 2. To promote buying local foods and enhance opportunities to obtain local foods sliding scale for healthy food farm to school program support Long Branch Store & School help farmers keep costs down (where possible) so they an be profitable with lower prices create “Bowdoinham Foods Brand” promote local farm stand near entrance to Town Bowdoinham food pantry Food freaks Create a program to help foster and manage community gardens Property tax credits for purchase of Bowdoinham produced food Add an element to Town website highlights local farms and food sources Work with other Town to develop a regional cultural marketplace including locally produced ag products, arts, crafts, programs, etc. Farm tours Maple syrup Sunday we need cooperative buying club opportunities continued support for Bham farmers’ market, advertising at exit 37 to remind people; market should have a “special” each week – advertise on sign board connect with school lunch program expand hours of farmers’ market in Bham utilize existing spaces/structures like Grange – use membership or use as educational space help with marketing & outreach (in newsletter, post/mail flyers) for cheap provide assistance with business loans get long term lease agreements for people who can’t purchase land crop ripening schedule on Town website allow all vendor at farmers market not just full time farmers, include craftspeople too Page 3 of 5 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2012 AT 6:00-7:30PM “Bowdoinham Farms” page to Town website promote work with school as focal point for consuming encourage local farmers to participate in local farmers’ market marketing, marketing, marketing buy local foods for Town events. force Hannaford to sell only local products at a cost relative to the avg income of local residents school to farm programs: field trips- show process and where and when food is produced (not just how grown) 3. To safeguard our agricultural resources. develop land use ordinance districting plan that safeguards those areas of town with soils best suited to agriculture maintain a business friendly attitude towards agriculture to safeguard, we just need to stay in business contact local & state legislators regarding farm bill provisions easement, acquisition, promotion make sure farmers have input on policy decisions educate: conservation easements need to allow clearing of forest for future farmland zone a business industrial specific area follow up comp plan with regulation that supports the plans goals create a revolving loan fund to help main farmland trust or similar organization save endangered farmland make it easy to guide the sale or transfer of farms to prospective farmers let people farm sustainably. make housing developments illegal help farmers physically conserve their land someone at the town should stay up to date on available programs/agendas who help farmers, if the town is the first stop we don’t want it to be the last 4. To encourage economically viable, ecologically sound and socially responsible agriculture. discourage environmentally irresponsible farming practices events town create events that show and celebrate how these 3 (economic, social, environmental) happen and co-exist scale is part of this discussion – plan to save/steward conserve for the future population. Plan 1.5 ac/family to ensure local is available. keep farmland taxes low continue to be involved with local farms (asking questions, updating town goals to be supportive) work toward developing a cooperative commercial kitchen for value added farm products and facility for crop storage. don’t impose social values on farmers. let them make their own economic decisions about the type of farming they do. develop cross-section draws: bike tours for farms, tasting tours, etc keep policies friendly to processors. a big bottleneck for farmers is at the processing point. town side farm brochure for promotion farm to school education Page 4 of 5 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2012 AT 6:00-7:30PM VI) farmer encouraged to attend educational opportunities – like trade show or state organizations offer educational programs in a policy way can we support family (small) farms town sponsored – Bowdoinham potluck, picnic, barbecue – feast Bowdoinham encourage the leasing of land by smaller land owners with land for use encourage the revitalization of the grange as a forum for farmers to share ideas and help each other Thank you for joining us! 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